It's been a while since I had a really challenging repair on the worktable. Straightforward restorations are great, don't get me wrong, but after the twelfth basic ream & clean job, a more intricate repair can be refreshing and a chance to exercise some muscles not often engaged during less complicated projects. This pair of… Continue reading Rebuilding Shattered Shank Extensions on Two Castello Sea Rock Pipes
As I've mentioned before, a broken tenon is by far the most common pipe repair, and for good reason. The stem tenon is the smallest structural part of a pipe and is subjected to a disproportionate amount of stressors as the pipe smoker removes and reinserts the stem in the shank. An overly-enthusiastic twist with… Continue reading Splinting a Broken Stem for a Castello Sea Rock
The fifth and final pipe in the Castello lot, an Old Antiquari KKKK Saddle Billiard, was arguably the most difficult of the lot to refurbish, not because of any major flaws or damages, but rather due to its regular, if not favourite, position in the owner's rotation. While just as well cared for as the… Continue reading The Last of Five Castello Pipes – an Old Antiquari KKKK Saddle Billiard with Fumee Finish
The fourth of five Castello pipes sent to me for cleanup and sale is a sandblasted Old Antiquari KKKK 1/8th Bent in what I will label as a Billiard despite its slightly unusual contours. While the rear line of the bowl is straight, the front of the bowl is slightly concave, giving the pipe a… Continue reading Quick Cleanup for a Castello Old Antiquari KKKK
This is the third of five Castello pipes sent to me for cleanup and sale. I posted the refurbishments of the first two some time ago but have been distracted by the Brigham book for a bit. Now that I've got a bit of breathing room in the schedule it's time to finish off this… Continue reading Freshening a Lovely Castello Natural Virgin G Bent Billiard
This is the second of five Castello pipes I have been asked to restore and sell. Last time, we lookd at a sandblasted Castello Old Antiquari Oom Paul. This week we're cleaning up a Castello "Castello" G Bent Billiard. Castello was founded by Carlo Scotti in Italy in 1947 and has become known for its… Continue reading Renewing a Beautiful Castello “Castello” G Bent Billiard
I missed last Friday's post so I thought I'd push this one out a bit early. Posts will be spread out a bit over the next month or so to give me time to work on the Brigham book. I hope their quality makes up for the lack of quantity! - Charles Not long ago,… Continue reading Freshening a Castello Old Antiquari KKKK Oom Paul
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